Ice Hockey World Cup, Group A, 7th matchday on Tuesday, 26/05/2026, 20:20
It’s officially only a group game, but there’s actually a lot more to it. Because it could easily be the final on Sunday. Both nations have been convincing all along the line so far!
It is not easy to give a Switzerland Finland tip here, as it is not clear whether both are really willing to give 100%. Nevertheless, I see slight value in the selection Victory Switzerland (incl. OT) at odds of about 1.87 at bet365.
It’s the home World Cup of the “Nati” and they want to offer the Zurich home crowd something for their money. In addition, their performances were a tad more convincing than those of the Finns. Teams like Austria or Germany were crushingly beaten.
I try to minimize the risk with my Switzerland Finland tip from the headline. However, the selection of victory Switzerland at odds of around 2.45 for a “home win” in the Swiss Life Arena within regular time would also be worth considering.
The Finns will be the ultimate endurance test for the hosts, as defenders such as Jokiharju and Heinola defend uncompromisingly.
Nevertheless, I see the Swiss simply starting this game with more momentum. They have won two of their last three games 9-0 each.
By comparison, the Scandinavians beat Hungary and Austria 4-1 and 5-2 respectively.
Hischier scores is almost a must for me at 2.82, given the fact that the NHL professional is the literal Swiss Army knife and feels like he participates in every second offensive action of his team.
The striker has scored a total of four goals in his last four World Cup games and also provided three assists. Expect another strong performance from Hischier, unless coach Patrick Fischer spares him for the quarter-finals.
In addition, I was also enthusiastic about the betting option 1st period: Under 1.5 goals at values around 1.75, as I strongly assume that mutual respect will be great.
Especially at the beginning, the two nations with the same number of points should still feel each other out and concentrate primarily on their respective defensive work. After all, both sides know that they could soon meet a second time in the final.
Consequently, I expect a first third that will be relatively poor in entertainment and conclusions. Only after the first period break do I see the Swiss bring a little more momentum into the matter.
The direct comparison shows you why it is so difficult to give a definitive Switzerland Finland tip.
Both teams are often on an equal footing, as three of the last four direct duels since December 2025 have already had to go into overtime.
In my opinion, the quarterfinals of the Olympic Games in February, in which the Finns won 3-2 after overtime, had a certain significance.
However, the Scandinavians are now missing some NHL superstars who made the difference back then.
Conclusion: Whoever wins this game – the last word will not be spoken. Because in a not unlikely final, the cards will be reshuffled and maximum stakes are guaranteed there.
However, I see the Swiss as having a slight advantage tonight. They want to continue to inspire the home crowd and if the first two rows perform as they did recently against Germany and Austria, then they should prevail this time too!
